Matt Shea
RubySoho
Morgan Bell
Cibbuano
David O'Connell
Mountain Fog
Coming to America
October 29th 2007 22:53
Why, then, did I love it?
Coming to America is one of those movies. One of those movies that I watched when I was in primary school, laughed about it on the schoolyard, and it's held a tiny piece of my wistful childhood memories every since.
Eddie Murphy is the prince of a fictional country in Africa, leading a life so decadent that he has servants to do everything, including a number of stunningly beautiful women to clean 'the Royal Penis'.
Naturally, he fights the idea of marrying a woman that his parents have picked and goes to America to find a wife. Predictably, he lands in New York (where 50% of all 'Foreigners in America' movies are shot, the other half in LA), and lives in a rundown slum apartment in Queens.
It's also one of Samuel L. Jackson's earliest roles:
It's a well-remembered movie by audiences, though the critics lambasted it when it came out, like in this NY Times review:
"Though ''Coming to America'' is a romantic comedy, John Landis, the director, and David Sheffield and Barry W. Blaustein, the writers, steer the film more often toward quick, in-and-out comic situations and gags that are only mildly funny. In part this is due to the fact that Mr. Murphy plays the prince with cheerful, low-keyed innocence that is completely legitimate, but is not supported by the short attention span of the screenplay. The romance is tepid."
Landis tries to bring off the romantic comedy, but it's so lukewarm and forces that Murphy and his co-star look like they can't believe it themselves.
It's hard to watch it now and find it funny, as the jokes have been recycled so many times that it's pretty easy to see it all coming. After all, we had the TV series Perfect Stranger (a Greek in America), Crocodile Dundee (an Aussie in America), Rumble in the Bronx (a Chinese Kung Fu Master in America), and so on.
The point is, movie producers are telling us, that immigrants are funny as hell. Just throw a foreigner in downtown Manhattan and film him trying to catch a cab or take the subway (Borat). It just writes itself.
The appeal of Coming to America, I suppose, is in its sincerity. The opening scenes, when Murphy is being tended to by his servants in his lavish palace are fantastic, with little touches, like baby elephants crossing the lawn and a dance number that'll knock the rocks off your socks.
It reminds us of a time when our established comedians were still young, and television was still funny. Murphy, Arsenio Hall, the cast of SNL - they could do no wrong in '88, putting out half-written comedies and making up the rest.
Soon after, though, they'd be rolling around in their piles of money, snorting cocaine and accepting scripts without reading them. It'd be only a matter of time before they'd be making buddy-cop flicks with an orangutan or a wisecracking dog.
I say: Not really watchable except as a throwback to the 80's. The club scene is particularly haunting.
See it for: Most of the cast is black, and they've just picked out the most incredibly beautiful women on the planet. It's a wonderful world.
*this image is from Filmcritic.com
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Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Now - not so hilarious, but for the knee-slapping memories!
Michaelie
BTW, is it just me, or does one of the jewels on Eddie's crown looks like a red jellybean?
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
I've got a lot of criticism for this movie, but I still realyl enjoyed it. SImple pleasures, I guess.
Comment by Damo
It was a good film but not a classic.
It just looked good against the crap of that year
Comment by Sports Insider
A very good and educational movie, and some great music from Randy Watson.
Comment by Aimzster
Reality TV
The Jeepney Stop
First Time Mum
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
SI, ha! The Gheri curls... oh man!
aimzster, did you meet your Prince Akeem?
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I was big on 48 Hrs, Trading Places and Beverly Hills Cop but by Coming To America and the Golden Child they had toned Eddie down to the point where he no longer made me laugh...though we all have our sentimental faves and I was a fan of Harlem Night.
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Coming to America and Golden Child are only monuments of memory now... Harlem Nights, really?
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
MNG
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Harlem Nights because I can watch Richard Pryor in just about anything
Comment by Miswanderlust
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
Eddie Murphy was definitely a staple in the eighties. Now that he has gotten his act together again I hope to see him in other roles. (I do miss the madcap fun of 48 hrs, BH Cops, and especially Trading Places!)
Mis